Coming off the bench for the first time since his freshman year in high school, Zeller doesn’t yet have a clear playing style to fall back on.

He’s still too small to bang bodies down low and lacks sufficient range to be a stretch power forward. Clifford has said Zeller needs to get stronger, but Zeller insists it’s more about “playing stronger.”

Whatever ceiling he may have, Zeller has come in with the work ethic of a rookie with something to prove instead of a top-five pick with an outsized ego, according to teammates and Clifford.

“He’s gotta look at some of the guys that have come and gone in this league and see how they’ve lasted, and that’s because they’ve just done the little things,” the scout said. “Rebounded, defended, and made the open shots when the ball was kicked out to you.”

Just a snippet. Talks to Zeller, Clifford, and an anonymous Western Conference scout.